Neutral Detergent Fiber Nitrogen Research Articles

Optimization tifton-85 grass cutting for productivity and nutrient value

The objective of this work was to determine the impact of cutting Tifton-85 grass at 14, 28, 42, 46, 70, and 80 days of regrowth on its production and nutritional characteristics during the rainy season. The study area of 238 m2 was divided into four sub-area, with 6 plots of 2 × 2 m spaced 1 m between plots and 2 m between sub-area. Random block design was used. The statistical analyses were performed following a randomized block design. Results were obtained as means from evaluations conducted in two consecutive years. The neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) increased as the cutting age increased. However, crude protein, NDF nitrogen, ADF nitrogen and leaves/stem relationship decreased as the cutting age increased. The production of digestible dry matter increased linearly as the cutting age increased. Similarly, grass height, green matter and dry matter production (DMP) increased as the cutting age increased. The different cutting age did not influence the nitrogen A, B1 + B2, and B3 fractions of the grass. However, the C fraction increased as the cutting age increased. Longer intervals between cuts increased the grass productivity per cut, but compromised its nutritional composition and leaves/stem relationship. For Tifton -85, the regrowth age of 28 days allows greater production of dry matter and greater accumulated production of crude protein and digestive dry matter in the rainy season or over time.

Morphological characteristics, nutritive quality, and methane production of tropical grasses in Brazil

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate three tropical forage species for their in vitro methane (CH4) production and organic matter degradability, in order to determine the relationships between forage grass nutritive quality and CH4 production. Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus), palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha), and signal grass (Urochloa decumbens) were evaluated. Palisade grass showed the highest organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, lignin, and lower-crude protein content. Signal grass had the highest values for hemicellulose and neutral detergent fiber-nitrogen, and the lowest-cellulose content. Guinea grass and signal grass showed a higher-total gas production than palisade grass. Besides, Guinea grass showed an increased CH4 production, and palisade grass showed lower value for truly degraded organic matter, and reduced partitioning factor, in comparison to signal grass. An increased CH4 production was observed in cases of lower hemicellulose and paratitioning factor. The nutritive value and CH4 production of forages may be employed as parameters, aiming at the sustainability of ruminant production.

Effects of supplementation of a basal diet of maize stover with different amounts of Leucaena diversifolia on intake, digestibility, nitrogen metabolism and rumen parameters in sheep

The experiment was carried out using a replicated (3×3) Latin square design with six sheep, to assess, the effect of supplementing maize stover fed ad libitum at three levels (100, 150 or 200 g) of Leucaena diversifolia. The sheep had an initial live weight of 26.4 kg±1.78 kg. In each period feed intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance, microbial protein yield, rumen kinetics, passage rate and protozoa and total bacteria were measured. L. diversifolia contained 32.7 g N kg −1 dry matter (DM), while maize stover contained 4.4 g N kg −1 DM. There was a linear ( P<0.05) increase in total DM intake, organic matter (OM) intake, neutral detergent fibre (NDF) intake, neutral detergent fibre nitrogen (NDF-N) intake and N intake. As level of supplement increased, faecal N increased linearly ( P<0.001), leading to no effect on N retention. The apparent N digestibility of L. diversifolia was estimated to be as low as 22.1%. With increasing level of Leucaena supplementation, the supply of microbial nitrogen to the duodenum increased, both when measured with purine derivatives in urine ( P<0.05) and when measured with purine in duodenum samples ( P<0.05). Increasing level of Leucaena increased ( P<0.05) total bacteria count in the rumen. L. diversifolia has limited value as a supplement to maize stover due to low protein digestibility.

Digestibility of Guajillo for White-Tailed Deer

A study was conducted from May 1986 to June 1987 with white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to determine seasonal nutritive value and nutrient digestibilities of guajillo (Acacia berlandieri) and a pelleted diet. In vivo dry matter digestibility (DMD) of guajillo varied seasonally from 35.2 to 48.1% and was inversely correlated to levels of condensed tannins in the forage. Apparent protein digestibility varied seasonally from 13.7 to 45.8% and was a highly dependent function R2 = 0.97) of the amount of neutral detergent fiber nitrogen (NDFN) digested and the negative impact of condensed tannins. Cellulose and hemicellulose digestibilities also varied seasonally (0.6 to 13.5% and 52.3 to 71.1%, respectively). Nutrient digestibilities of the pelleted diet did not vary by season, sex, or age. Dry matter digestibility of the pelleted diet was 75.6% +/- 0.9 and true protein digestibility was 95.0 +/- 0.04. Results suggest summer is a stressful period for south Texas deer due to low protein and energy digestibility and high levels of condensed tannins.